ACT II.

66 LOST! LOST! LOST!"

Scene same.

Time-Three months later.

DUCHESS discovered alone, with open letter in her hand.

DUCHESS.

I am sorry for it. This untimely war
Has for the present foiled my purposes.
Rudolph in arms against a foreign foe

Puts hope to threefold peril. First, and worst,

Being no carpet-warrior, he may fall,

Or lose his princedom, or a part of it;

Or, at the best, this heat of heart may cool,
Love's fire wax pale beside the war-god's blaze.
Methought ere this his presence would have cured
My winsome mistress of her wilfulness:

Well, should he triumph in his warlike quest,
Those eyes, that blenched not at the glint of gold,
Bright-burnished steel may dazzle. Like enough.

Enter KAUZ.

But here is Kauz-our piece ubiquitous
Upon the board-knight, bishop, pawn in one,
By whose swift moves, or cunning ambuscades,
I oft have checked, and purpose to check-mate,
Our virtuous chamberlain.

KAUZ.

What would your Highness?

DUCHESS.

A word with thee.

KAUZ.

'Tis time, methinks, for deeds.

DUCHESS.

My deeds thou'lt find no worser than my words.
Art thou prepared to swear thou heardst him slander
Thy lord and me?

KAUZ.

If he may slander speak

Who speaks but with himself, none by to heed.

DUCHESS.

Then is he guilty twice, in ear and tongue,
For telling first, then hearkening, his own tale.
But, more than this, thou heardst him muttering
Wild threats of revolution—that himself

Would lead the vassals to our overthrow,

And much disparaging Prince Rudolph's suit,
As though he knew one worthier.

KAUZ.

This I heard,

And further marked him holding treasonous parle

With riot and rebellion—a bold gang,

That shouted death unto your Highnesses

E'en at the palace gates.

DUCHESS.

And he replied—

KAUZ.

With flattery and fair words, entreating them.
To patience till the hour were ripe, and faith
In Arnfeld's friendship, and their quarrel his,
And so with largess sent them on their way.

DUCHESS.

With largess! ha! thou saidst not so before.

KAUZ.

I spake but of his words. Nathless, at parting
He flung them for their pains a purse of gold.
Good fees make faithful servants.

DUCHESS.

Thou art one,

And shalt have cause to be more faithful yet.

[Giving him money.

This little seed, late fallen from thy lips,
Dropped in good soil, where it shall fructify,
Take root ere long, and blossom to his bane.
Meanwhile I know thou hast the appetite-
Pry into all his secrets, and search out
What more thou canst of his expenditure;

Then bring me word. Be watchful, and farewell.

So ho! then Arnfeld is the nibbling rat
That makes this leakage in the treasury!

[Exit KAUZ.

[Exit.

'Tis as thou sayst, good Forester; except

The work find wages, why, of naught comes naught.

HEINRICH.

Of naught awhile came plenty, which good crop
I for his Highness reaped, you housed the same;
Of this a tithe's tithe spent, as now 'tis spared,
Would yield him tenfold harvest.

ARNFELD.

Thou art right.

Oh for some fine persuasive shaft to pierce
The Duke's impenetrable stubbornness !

HEINRICH.

One shaft there is, but something overfine
For our tough bow-strings-his fair daughter.

ARNFELD.

Should others fail, that arrow, too, we'll try;
But my grey goosequill must be ventured first.

E

Well,